LIBRARY OF'CONGRESS. 



Shelf ..-.2-7-^ 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Chronological Rhymes 



IN- 



Modern History 



'MUG §0^1893 



<-" 



Copyrighted, 18!*2, 



Bv S. A. Brown. 



REVISED EDITION. 
Copyrighted 1893. 

Hy S. A. Brown. 



ERRATA. 

On page 17, first line, read In instead of Ih. 
second line, read on a instead of or the. 
On page 31 read i84g instead of iS4i. 



Revised Edition, 

PART I. 

1893 



The prominent, pivotal dates of his- 
tory are to the student what milestones 
are to the ti'aveller. 



Chkonological Khymes 

IN 
MODEEN HiSTOKY. 



Chronology should serve to trace 
The jutting rocks of age and race; 
A lighthouse prove for every clime 
To guide us down the stream of time, 
And first the birth of Christ, we state. 
The Christain world's great central date. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 



70 

Unable Roman might to quell, 

In seventy, Jerusalem fell; 

Her temple fair to ruin hurled. 

Her children exiled through the world. 



306 

Three hundred six, we note the date 
When Constantine, surnamed "The Great" 
The sceptre took, and claimed, we see. 
First Christian emperor to be. 



IN MODERN HISTORY. 



451 

Four hundred fifty-one, we see 
The hosts of Huns in battle flee, 
Where Christian might on Chalon's sod 
Met Attila, the "Scourge of God." 

476 

Four seventy-six, serves to recall 
The Roman Empire's tottering fall. 



CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 



622 

Six: hundred twenty-two, 'tis said, 
Mahomet to Medina fled; 
From that Hegira, as they state. 
The prophet's sons their era date. 

732 

In seven hundred thirty-two. 
The battle-ground of Tours we view, 
Where Charles Martel with fiery ken 
Drove back the hated Saracen. 



IN MODERN HISTORY. 9 

768 

In seven sixty- eight, the reign 
O'er France began of Charlemagne. 

827 
Eight hundred twenty-seven, we see 
In one the Saxon Heptarchy. 

1066 
One thousand sixty-six, 'tis shown 
The Gorman mounted England's throne. 

1096 
One thousand ninety-six was made 
By pilgrim band the First Crusade. 



10 CHEONOLOUrCAL RHYMES 

I2I5 

In twelve fifteen, at Rnnnymede, 
King John anwillingly agreed 
To sign the Magna Charta then, 
Which sealed the rights of Englishmen. 

1450 

In fourteen fifty, Germans claim 
Through Gutenburg's wide-honored name, 
The great invention of the age, 
Which gave the world the printed page. 



IN MODERN HISTOKY. 11 

1453 

In fouj'teen hundred fifty-three, 
Constantinople ceased to be 
A Roman city, since that day 
The Turk has held despotic sway. 

1492 

In fourteen ninety-two, the brave 
Columbus west fi-om Palos went, 
And laid o'er the Atlantic wave 
The path to a new continent. 



12 CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 

1522 

In fifteen twenty-two, 'tis found 
Magellan sailed the world around, 
And claimed to be the pioneer 
In proving thus the earth a sphere. 

1603 

We find in sixteen hundred three, 
England and Scotland both agree 
Their ancient feud aside to fling, 
And James the Stuart crown as kino^. 



IN MODERN HISTOKY. 13 

1607 

In sixteen seven, settlers came 
From English soil foi* Jamestown bent; 
In honor of their king, his name 
They gave to this first settlement. 

1610 

In sixteen hundred ten, the tide. 
In France, of sorrow filled the land, 
"When Henry Fourth, her monarch, died, 
Slain by tlie fell assassin's hand. 



14 CHEONOLOGICAL RHYMES 

1620 

In sixteen twenty, o'er the waves 
The Mayflower neared Isew England's 

strand 
And Plymouth Rock the honor craves 
Of welcoming the Pilgrim band. 

1649 

In sixteen forty-nine, his fate 

Met England's ^Charles by regicide. 

* Charles i. 



IN MODERN HISTORY. 15 

1658 

In sixteen hundred fifty-eight, 
Cromwell, the Lord Protector, died. 



1775 

In seventeen seventy-five, was won 
The opening fight at Lexington, 
Which ranked, in seventeen eighty-three, 
Our country's name among the free. 



16 CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 

1793 

In seventeen ninety-three, the king 
Louis Sixteenth was guillotined, 
While France a bloody offering 
From Revolution's harvest gleaned. 

1812 
In eighteen twelve, History relates 
England and the United States, 
Fought three long years upon the sea, 
Each struggling for supremacy. 



IN MODEKN HISTORY 17 



l8l2 

111 eighteen twelve, Napoleon came 
To Moscovv^, aa^fe^ bloody track, 
But soon, with help of frost and flame, 
The Russians drove his legions back. 



1815 

In eighteen fifteen, Napoleon, too, 
Defeated, fled from Waterloo, 
And rocky St. Helena gave 
To him a prison and a grave. 



18 CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 

1854 

There comes in eiij^hteeii fifty-foar, 
From Crimea the cannon's roar, 
Where English Bnll and Knssian Bear 
With France the ])loody conflict share. 

1857 

In eighteen hnndred fifty-seven, 
The cable's message first was given. 
As through the deep Atlantic meetino-, 
Our country sent to Europe greeting 



IN MODERN HISTORY. 19 

1858 

In eighteen fifty- eight, 'tis known, 
Victoria on English throne, 
Began upon this date, the name 
Empress of India to claim. 

1 86 1 

In eighteen sixty -one, the strife 
Betwixt the North and South began 
And threatening sore the ^N^ation's life, 
Four weary years its courses ran. 



20 CHRONOLOGICAL KHYMES 



1863 

In eighteen hundred sixty-three, 
Was signed by Lincohi ''The Decree" 
Which gave at once "Emancipation" 
To every slave throughout the nation. 

1864 
In eighteen hundred sixty-four. 
While civil war the country tore. 
To Mexico, by French consent, 
Ill-fated Maximilian went, 
But died in eighteen sixty-seven, 
To treachery a victim given. 



IN MODERN HISTORY. 21 

1865 

In eighteen sixty-five, a wave 
Tliroughont our land of horror went, 
And tears and sobs the IS'ation gave 
Lincoln, her martyred president. 

1870 

In eighteen seventy, we see 
Napoleon Third was forced to flee. 
And France in that eventful hour 
To bow beneath the German power. 



22 CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 

1 88 1 

In eighteen eighty-one, the wail 
Of sorrow rose for Garfield slain. 
The nation heard the tw^ice-told tale, 
And monrned her martyred dead again. 

The Nineteenth Centnry's closing life 
With fresh discovery is rife. 
While History bends with listening ear 
The Fntnre's coming march to hear, 
And wonders what new offering 
The Twentieth Century will bring. 



PART II, 



Presidents. 
A. D. 1 789-1893 



1789 

Washington. 

In seventeen hundred eighty-nine, 
First of the presidential hne 
Stands Washington, though years increase, 
Still "first in war" and "first in peace." 



26 CHRONOLOGIC VL RHYMES 



1797 

In seventeen hundred and ninety-seven. 
The oath of office next was given 
To bold John Adams, brave and true, 
Whose patriot heart his country knew. 

1801 

Then comes in eighteen hundred one 
The name of Thomas Jeiferson, 
Author and giver to the nation 
Of the immortal "declaration." 



IN MODERN HrSTORY 27 

1809 

We note in eighteen hundred nine, 
James Madison the next in line; 
True to himself, whate'er his ground, 
^' State rights" in him a champion found. 

1817 

In eighteen hundred seventeen 
The name of James Monroe is seen; 
The "Monroe doctrine" bars invasion. 
We tolerate no foreign nation. 



28 IN MODEKN HISTORY 

[825 

We see in eighteen twenty-five 
John Qniney Adams next arrive, 
Inheriting his father's fire, 
The ''worthy son of such a sire." 

1829 

In eighteen hundred twenty-nine 
BUift" Andrew Jackson wheels in Hne, 
And for the party watchword toils, 
That ^''to the victor come the spoils." 

*Jackson established the principle of rotation in office. 



IN MODERN H [STORY 29 

1837 

When next in eighteen thirty-seven 
Martin Van Bnren's call was given, 
Financial panic o'er the land 
Spread its dark pall on every hand. 

184I 

In eighteen hundred forty-one 

Came William Henry Harrison, 

For one short month the nation's head, 

Then sadly laid among the dead. 



30 IN MODKKN HISTORY 

184I 

Vice President John Tyler then 
The vacant office filled again, 
While "Dorr's rebellion's" futile strife 
In fair Rhode Island sprang to life. 

1845 

In eighteen forty-five, the name 
Of James Iv. Polk the records claim, 
While strife began, and blood to flow, 
On battle fields of Mexico. 



IN MODERN HISTORY 31 

1849 

111 eighteen hundred forty-nine 
The fight was fierce on party line, 
Bold Zachary Taylor won the day, 
The hero brave of Monterey. 

1849 

Again the shaft of death was sped, 
Again the nation mourned its head. 
Then Millard Fillmore placed in power, 
While slavery's discord jarred the hour. 



32 CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 

1853 

In eighteen hundred fifty-three 

The name of Franklhi Pierce we see; 

Japan, in his administration, 

Two ports first opened to our nation. 

1857 

The choice of James Buchanan given 
In eighteen hundred fifty-seven, 
Recalls the famed ''Dred Scott decision," 
When slavery blurred our moral vision. 



IN MODERN HISTORY 33 



1 86 1 

In eighteen sixty-one, the name 
Of Abraham Lincoln next we claim, 
He proved the country's guiding star. 
Our pilot through the "civil war," 

With loyal heart he sought to bear 
The burden of a nation's care, 
Then fell by the assassin's hand, 
While mourning voices filled the land. 



34 CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 



Our "Ship of state" no tide may whelm, 
Next Andrew Johnson took the helm, 
And saw, in his administration, 
Alaska added to the nation. 

1869 

To guide the peace his valor won 
The nation called her warrior son, 
And placed in eighteen sixty-nine, 
The name of ^Grant upon the line. 

♦Ulysses S. Grant. 



IX MODERN HISTORY 35 

1877 

The choice in eighteen seventy-seven 
To Ruthei'ford B Hayes was given; 
While o'er the ' Soiitli" spread consternation 
At yellow fever's dread invasion. 

1S81 

The pi-ize in eighteen eighty-one 

By James A. Garfield next was won, 

But soon by mad assassin slain, 

We mourned our martyred head again 



30 CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 

1885 

In eighteen eighty-five, the vote 
For Grover Cleveland then we jiote, 
And northern heart with Southern blent, 
When earthquake shock fair Charleston i-ent. 

1889 

Benjamin Harrison in line 
Comes next in eighteen eighty-nine, 
While labor strike and cholera scare 
With threatening murmurs filled the air. 



IX MODEKN HISTORY 37 



1893 

In eighteen ninety-three's campaign 
Is Grover Clevekmd called again, 
While far and wide, on every hand, 
The "World's Fair" voices fill the land 

Chicago, in white robe arrayed. 
On all the earth has tribute laid, 
And wealth of art, and classic lore, 
Has piled upon her lake washed shore. 



l\S CHRONOLOGICAL RHYMES 



Thus far the presidential scroll 
Its records clear to us unroll, 
Somewhere, ^within the nation's bound, 
Our coming leaders will be found, 
And Time, with his unerring pen, 
Each new inscription trace again. 



♦The Constitution requires the President to be a "natural 
born citizen" of the United States. 



